ACBlinky
09/05/2006, 05:17 PM
Every few weeks I look into my reef after lights-out and see tiny animals swimming around -- the rics seem to enjoy feeding on them and the damsels and clown goby go nuts. There are no shrimp in the tank, and I always wondered what they were -- they look like tiny commas and wiggle through the water in a cloud. They're always gone by morning.
Last night I noticed a blueleg hermit crab 90% out of its shell, and thought maybe it was in distress, so I looked closer. The back end of the crab was covered in something fuzzy, and when I looked closer still I noticed the crab was using her legs to push hundreds of larvae off her back into the water. If I moved, she quickly pulled back into her shell, but then she'd start again once she felt the coast was clear. It was quite amazing watching her let all those babies go, I've never seen a crab spawn before.
My reef never ceases to fascinate me; I think I've definitely found a hobby I'll love for the rest of my life :D
Last night I noticed a blueleg hermit crab 90% out of its shell, and thought maybe it was in distress, so I looked closer. The back end of the crab was covered in something fuzzy, and when I looked closer still I noticed the crab was using her legs to push hundreds of larvae off her back into the water. If I moved, she quickly pulled back into her shell, but then she'd start again once she felt the coast was clear. It was quite amazing watching her let all those babies go, I've never seen a crab spawn before.
My reef never ceases to fascinate me; I think I've definitely found a hobby I'll love for the rest of my life :D